‘Clubbed tubes’

I have just had a lap and dye operation to see if my tubes are blocked. The term they used, 'clubbed tubes', was the reason for me being unable to co...

23/08/2001

Question

I have just had a lap and dye operation to see if my tubes are blocked. The term they used, 'clubbed tubes', was the reason for me being unable to conceive. What does this mean and is there any treatment available?

Answer

I am very sorry to hear that you are having trouble with fertility and that the specialists have found a problem with your fallopian tubes.

The fallopian tubes transport the egg from the ovary to the womb, and at the end of the tube near the ovary there are a number of finger-like projections called fimbria. Their job is to help direct the eggs shed from the ovary into the mouth of the fallopian tube.

You say that you have had pelvic inflammatory disease, and this can cause adhesions in the pelvis, that is extra bits of scar like tissue that tend to stick the different anatomical structures together. If adhesions affect the ends of the fimbria, then they can get blocked up and the thickness of the wall of the tube is increased. When dye is put up the fallopian tubes it cannot get out into the pelvic cavity and the appearance is called ‘clubbing’ - this is because the ends of the tiny fingers of the fimbria look rounded because of the blockage and look like small clubs (the sort of clubs that jugglers use).

Unfortunately this is not good news as it means that if the dye cannot get out, the eggs cannot get in to be fertilized. However this is by no means the end of the road as far as your fertility is concerned. Sometimes it is possible to have microsurgery to repair the damage and make the tubes open again. And of course your ovaries will still be producing eggs, and these can be harvested for IVF (in vitro fertilisation) with your husband's sperm and the embryo put back in the womb to grow, so by-passing the tubes altogether. These are very specialized areas, and you must make sure that you are referred to a specialist in these techniques.

So don't despair, it is by no means impossible for you to get pregnant, and good luck on your quest.

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